Scientific Journal of

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Venous thrombosis is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Elevated plasma homocysteine is known as a cause of vein morphology changes and endothelial dysfunction which lead to platelet activation, fibrinolysis inhibition and finally atherothrombosis. In this study, we evaluated the role of homocysteine in atherothrombosis as compared to the control group with no history of thrombosis.

 Materials and Methods

 In this case control study‚ 100 patients with arterial thrombosis (54 men and 46 women) as the case group and 68 as control (40 men and 28 women) were involved. Blood samples were taken in the EDTA-located tube and transported to the laboratory for fasting plasma homocysteine to be measured by ELISA kits. Some data such as age, sex, thrombosis history, and familial thrombosis history were taken from the patients through a questionnaire. We measured fasting plasma homocysteine in both case and control groups by ELISA method. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS statistical software using T-Test and Chi-square odds ratio was also calculated.

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 Results

 The average rates of homocysteine in the case and control group were 23.85 ± 18.4 and 11.48 ± 3.4 µmol/lit respectively showing statistical significance. The hyperhomocysteinemia frequency in the case group was 48%, whereas 17.6% in the control. A significant difference was also observed in the frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia between male (70.4%) and female (21.7%) in the case group. There was a moderate correlation between homocysteine level and age in the case group.

 Conclusions

 According to the achieved odds ratio (2.72), hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for thrombosis. It means that homocysteine measurement should be determined in thrombosis-affected or high risk patients. Dietary supplementation with low doses of folate and vitamin B₁₂ should be considered in affected persons.

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 Key words : Homocysteine, Venous thrombosis, Risk factor

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 There is a loss of iron with each donation and reports have shown iron deficiency in regular blood donors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in regular male blood donors and study the related factors.

 Materials and Methods

 In this cross-sectional study, a total of 253 regular volunteer male blood donors during 2007, were sent for blood tests (complete blood count, serum iron, and ferritin) within 20 days either at pre-donation or post-donation periods. Data were analyzed with Pearson Correlation test by using SPSS 15.

 Results

 Thirty two (12.6%) had iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin less than 12.5 g/dl), 67 (26.6%) had low serum iron (less than 50 micg/dl), 135 (54.9%) had low ferritin levels (less than 17 ng/ml) and 13 (5.1%) had hematocrit lower than 38%. The number of donations per year had a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, and ferritin levels (p< 0.001, p< 0.005, p< 0.009, p< 0.001, respectively) the total number of donations also showed a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, and ferritin levels (p< 0.001, p< 0.004, p<0.001 and p< 0.023, respectively). MCV also lowered as the number of donations per year increased (p< 0.01).

 Conclusions

 Iron stores in regular male blood donors were low which showed a strong correlation with the number of donations per year and total number of donations. Since recruiting regular blood donors is essential, preventing iron deficiency by early diagnosis will be beneficial for unreturned rate of regular donors to decrease.

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Hemoglobinopathies are heterogenic hereditary disorders in which mutations lead to abnormal production of hemoglobin chains, or change in the normal sequence of the hemoglobin amino acids. Thalassemia and sickle cell anemia (SCA) are the most prevalent hemoglobinopathies. Patients with the above mentioned disorders often require hypertransfusion regimens. However, continued blood transfusion may contribute to iron overload and consequent organ deterioration, in addition to viral infections. The aim of this review article is to evaluate recent treatment programs regarding these disorders.

 Materials and Methods

 This paper is evaluating the newest protocols applied for the treatment of thalassemia and SCA by reviewing 51 references using Ebsco, Elsevier, Pubmed and OVID databases.

 Results

 Blood transfusion and medical treatments may improve the lifestyle or increase the lifespan of patients with hemoglobinopathies. However, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is presented as the only curative therapy for thalassemia and SCA. On the other hand, HSCT may contribute to complications such as infertility and gonadal failure, especially in women, chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and potential secondary malignancies.

 Conclusions

 In spite of the limitations and complications attributed to HSCT, this method is proved to be the most effective way for treatment of hemoglobinopathies. Different cells and novel strategies used to modify transplantation are introduced in this article.

Abstract

Background and Objectives

In transfusion medicine, safety and quality assurance of blood and blood components are very critical. National blood transfusion standards ratify that the quality control should be performed on at least 1% of the total preparations for each type of blood component they also define the essential indicators for each product to be qualified. This study aims to evaluate and analyze the results of the quality control of red blood cells (RBC) in blood centers in Iran from 2013-2014.

Materials and Methods

This study was descriptive-sectional. The data of red blood cell components that had been qualified in Iranian Bood Transfusion Organization were gathered from all blood centers across Iran from 2013-2014 time period. Then, all data were enterd in software microsoft excel 2010. The results were compared with the standards the percentage of parameter non-conformity, the measures for the mean ± SD of parameters, and the CV as an index of dispersion were all calculated.

Results

Utility functions of different parameters were as follows. Sterility: 100%, volume: 93.8%, hematocrit: 91.2%, hemoglobin: 99.6% , hemolysis index: 98.6%, no clots: 97.8%, the mean ± SD of volume: 270 ± 9.20 mL, Hematocrit: 74.9 ± 4%, Hb: 63 ± 7.9 g/bag, and hemolysis index was 0.23 ± 0.16%.

Conclusions 

According to the evaluation and analysis results, the quality parameters of red blood cell components were consistent with national and international quality requirements.